Switch for direction indicators



March 21, 1933. R. HADANO 1,902,700

SWITCH FOR DIRECTION INDICATORS Filed May 5, L931 M a xr-ronucv'sPatented Mar. 21, 1933 UNITED STATES RINJIRO HADANO, OF HONOLULU,TERRITORY OF HAWAII SWITCH FOR DIRECTION INDICATORS Application filedMay 5, 1931.

This invention relates to switches especially adapted for controllingdirection indlcators and has for the primary object, the provision of adevice of the above stated character whereby an electric circuit of adirection indicator may be easily and quickly controlled by themanipulation of a lever which is normally urged into an ofi or circuitbreaking position and equipped with means for retaining the lever incircuit closing positlon until release of the lever for self-movementinto circuit breaking position is desired.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a switchfor a direction indicator of the above stated character which will besimple, durable and efiicient and which may be manufactured and sold ata comparatively low cost.

With these and other objects in view, this invention consists in certainnovel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts tobe hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had tothe following description and accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1is a horizontal sectional view illustrating a control switch constructedin accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the control switch taken at right anglesto that shown by Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view illustrating the electricallyactuated means for releasing the switch lever from either of itssignalling positions.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral 5 indicates aconventional type of steering post of a motor vehicle and has securedthereto by a bracket a control switch 6 consisting of an elongatedcasing 24 having a switch lever 25 mounted therein and extendingoutwardly of said casing and equipped with a handle 26 located adjacentthe steering wheel of the post 5 so that a person may easily actuate thelever without moving the hand from the steering wheel. The switch lever25 is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on a post 27 carried bythe casing and Serial No. 535,231.

the free end of said lever is connected to a coil spring 28 which is inturn connected to the casing for the purpose of normally maintaining thelever in a neutral or circuit breaking position, as shown in full linesin Figure 1. Pairs of contacts 29 and 30 are supported by a suitablebridge 31 within the casing and located adjacent the inner end of theswitch lever. movable contacts 32 and adapted to be alternatinglyengaged with the pairs of contacts 29 and 30 when the switch lever 25 ismoved into its dotted line position, as shown in Figure 1. The movablecontacts 32 and 33 are suitably insulated from the switch lever 25.

A bracket 34 is mounted in the casing 24 and has hinged thereto alocking plate 35, the free end of which is provided with relativelyspaced notches 36 to receive a projection or lug 37 carried by theswitch lever for holding the latter in any of its adjusted positions. Acoil spring 38 is interposed between the bracket 34 and the lockingplate for normally urging said plate towards the switch lever and willpermit the lug 37 to ride into and out of the notches 36 during themovement of the switch lever when manually manipulated. However, thetension of the spring 38 is suiiicient to cause the locking plate 35 tohold the switch lever in any of its positions against accidentalmovement. Electromagnets 39 controlled in any suitable manner aremounted on the bracket and are electrically connected with one contactof each of the pair of contacts 29 and 30, as shown in Figure 1 so thatwhen the switch lever 25 is in either of its circuit closing positionsthe electro-magnets are in circuit with the contacts 32 and 33. Theelectro-magnets when energized are adapted to disengage the lookingplate 35 from the switch lever 25 and permit the latter to return to aneutral or circuit breaking position by the influence of the spring 28.A finger piece 40 is carried by the locking plate 35 and extends throughthe casing 24 adjacent the handle 26 whereby a person may manuallyrelease the switch lever from either of its circuit closing positions.

While I have shown and described the pre- Said end of the switch levercarries ferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood thatminor changes in construction, combination and arrangement of parts maybe made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, as

claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: p I

A switch comprising a casing, spaced resfl- 10 ient contacts mounted inthe casing, a lever pivotally mounted in the casing with one end thereofarranged exteriorly of the casing to provide a handle and the other endof said lever arranged for movement between said contacts, resilientcontacts carried by the lastnamed end of the lever to alternatinglyengage the first-mentioned contacts during opposite movements of thelever by the handle, tension means connected to the lever and the p v 3casing for normally positioning the lever to p i disengage the contacts,a spring pressed hinged latch. plate mounted in the casing andunderlying the lever adjacent the handle and having spaced notches, alug on said lever V V to engage in said notches for holding the lever ia a 2:. against self-movement and means for removing said plate to allowself-movement of the lever.

In testimony whereofI aflix my signature. 7 v- V, Y. 7 .2 v p RINJIRQHADANO. i Y 53,-?

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